Assembly Approves Women’s Agenda

The Democratic-led Assembly on Monday approved the 10-point package of measures aimed at women as first proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last year.

The bill was approved 80-36.

But once again, the passage of the measures as a single piece in the state Senate, where Republicans retain some control and blocked a provision that was aimed at codifying Roe v. Wade, remains in doubt.

The Capitol on Monday included a rally for the agenda in the Legislative Office Building, with many lawmakers donning either pink scarves (for women) or pink bow ties (for men) to show their support for the legislation.

In a statement, the women members of the Democratic conference in the Assembly called for the Senate passage of the omnibus.

“We are pleased to have the opportunity to pass the package at the beginning of this session, giving constituents across the State the chance to reach out to those Senators who control the State Senate who have blocked this bill from a vote,” the women said in a statement.

The announcement of the 10-point agenda came with much fanfare from Cuomo during his third State of the State address in 2013.

The agenda includes measures aimed at pay equity, curbing human trafficking and housing discrimination as well as the abortion provision.

Opponents of abortion contended the provision went too far and opposed it. But advocates of the agenda last year sought to turn up pressure on the Senate and specifically the Independent Democratic Conference, which is in a power-sharing agreement with the Senate GOP.

In June, Cuomo announced he was breaking the package into 10 separate bills, which were passed piecemeal by the Senate.

IDC Leader Jeff Klein attempted to attach the abortion measure as an amendment to a different bill, but fell short of votes.

This year, Cuomo remains a supporter of the women’s agenda, but it was not a major point of emphasis in his State of the State address.

Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos said earlier this month the abortion plank remained a non-starter for his conference.

Still, abortion advocates and women’s groups remain very much in favor of the entire package and are refocusing their efforts on passing the plan this year.

“The Senate now has the opportunity to take up the Women’s Equality Act in its entirety,” NARAL Pro-Choice’s Andrea Miller. “We strongly encourage the Senate to heed the needs of New York women and the wishes of the voting public, and follow the Assembly’s lead in passing the full 10-point Women’s Equality Act without delay.”

This entry was posted by Nick Reisman on January 27, 2014 at 5:34 pm, and is filed under Assembly. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Mike Flynn

“Deja Vue all over again on WEA”

The idea of being this stubbron on the 10th Provision being bundled, and knowing the Senate won’t pass it, shows how badly new blood is needed in the Assembly as a whole and the Speakership in particular.

That NARAL and Andrea Miller has this much pull, to drag this legislation down twice is amazing in its implications. This Woman’s group is having far to much influence on passage of the WEA legislation in Albany, NY. Woman need to take a stand against this fixation on the 10th Abortion Provision, which comes at the expense of passing 9 other WEA Provisions.

Mike Flynn ‘Middle Class Mike’

BusterBrown

Well done, Assembly members!

As for you, MCM, women have no intention of taking a stand against the abortion provision. Not the majority of them in NYS. We DO take a stand against arrogant men, like yourself, overstepping their bounds and telling women what’s best for them. Those days are long gone. Shove your paternalism where the sun doesn’t shine.

You are doomed to a lifetime of disappointment on the abortion issue. Maybe YOU should buy a bus ticket to Texas. In any case, carry on with your delusional ramblings if it makes you feel better. You remind me of the troubled individuals walking down the street arguing aloud with themselves. If you’ve seem one crazy, you’ve seen them all.

p.s. Thank you to the male Assembly members and truly progressive men everywhere who support a woman’s right to control their own bodies.

James_Locke

Including the abortion provision is disgusting and ignorant of modern science.